How to Solve the Biggest Problems with Goal Setting

Goal setting and problem solving are continual tasks in any business and we often treat them separately. However, using goal setting to tackle a problem can often deliver a solution that is longer lasting.

I often hear managers say ‘how did it happen, what caused it?’ when they face a problem, large or small.

These are very valid questions and, what they cause you and others to do is look at a very specific situation and dig into it until you can answer the question.

On the other hand, taking a goal setting approach can create a very different solution that may have a more systemic result.

Here’s an example, a system goes down which results in a particular part of the business not being able to progress their work. By asking questions like, how did it happen? allows you to look only at that very specific situation to understand what happened and how you can rectify it.

If you are on the receiving end of that question it can sometimes create a defensive reaction and I’ve know this to turn into trying to find out who is responsible.

Start with the end in mind

Whereas, if you take a goal setting approach the question you ask is very different – what’s the outcome we want instead? It get’s you thinking differently. So, you start with the end in mind and you come up with the outcome – the goal you’d like to see in the future.

It is still good to use the SMART acronym to help you define the outcome you want and here it is as a reminder:

Specific – be as specific as possible. Think about the standards you want and maybe how you want it to look like so that you know what good looks like.

Measurable – How will you measure it when you’ve got it? Is there a reduction in costs, and increase in productivity, and increase in customer satisfaction? Be clear about how you’ll measure your outcome.

Achievable – think of this as being more about is what I’m looking for possible. I have seen people have debates about whether something is achievable or not and this is often driven by individual mindsets, rather than reality.

Realistic – Do you believe you can make this happen?

Timebound – set a date by which it will be achieved and if necessary set some milestones.

Once you have been through this process look at how you can bring this about and take action.

Taking this approach is more likely to identify flaws in the system or process.

So next time you have a problem ask your self what outcome do you want instead? 

A goal properly set is halfway reached.

 Abraham Lincoln

Rules for Success – How to Identify Yours in 3 Simple Steps

It’s not uncommon for people at this time of year to talk about their New Year resolutions or the goals they have set. In fact this morning I had three people ask me this very question.

I am not against this. In fact I have my own process I go through at the end of each year, which involves me looking at every area of my life and setting clear goals for the year ahead. In the last 3 years I’ve also selected a word for the coming year. If you want to know more about this latter process find more information here.

What was really interesting this morning was that one person said they had the same resolution as previous years because they never stuck to it…

It is easy to give up when faced with the first, second, or third hurdle, so I thought I’d share part of the process I go through each year. It allows me to identify my own rules for success that help me stay on track, or at the very least identify what isn’t working.

Reflection on successes

The first step is to reflect over the past year and list, and by that I mean write them down, all the things you achieved. Consider every aspect of your life and everything that was an achievement for you no matter how large or small.

It’s easy for us to forget great things that have happened and put all our focus on what we didn’t do or should have done.

Take time to look at your list and feel good or even great about them and acknowledge all that you have achieved. I’ve known some people to then create their top 10 highlights for the year and use this instead of a Christmas card. It’s very impressive when you receive one of these too!

Reflection on what you didn’t achieve YET

This second step is important. The mindset you have when approaching this step is equally important. This isn’t about beating yourself up, criticising yourself, or getting into any analysis of what could, should or didn’t happen. It’s simply about recognising that some things, for all sorts of reasons, haven’t been achieved yet.

Again write this down – list them and then move onto the last, and for me the most important, step.

Identify YOUR Rules for Success

Now, with both lists in front of you ask yourself these two questions:

What was it I did that allowed me to succeed and achieve all that I did last year? What were the rules I had that when I follow them I succeeded?

Make a note of these.

Then, ask yourself:

What were the rules I wasn’t following, that if you had followed, would have allowed me to achieve all those things I haven’t yet?

Make a list of these.

This is about taking the learning from the previous year to ensure you make the best of the next 12 months.

From what you have written down you can now identify the important things for you to do consistently. This then gives you your own personal rules for success that you know if you follow them enable you to succeed.

Keep them somewhere accessible, so that you can refer to them if you need to. I find that if something isn’t quite working the way I’d hoped, it’s usually because one or more of my own rules are not being followed.

Here are mine for this year:

1. Stay connected – to the people I am working with, my own goals and what I care about.
2. Be consistent – in all that I do working on and in my business.
3. Believe and trust in myself – we all have times when we doubt ourselves and I am no exception.
4. Follow through on things I have committed to do for myself as well as my clients
5. Do the work required both professionally and personally – this is another way of saying practice what you preach…

I hope this has given you an approach to help keep yourself on track and it would be lovely to hear what your own rules for success are – do let me know at dawn@aurora4success.co.uk

“Success or failure in business is caused more by the mental attitude than by mental capacities.”

Sir Walter Scott